Universal Japan to open "Land of Oz"

[Disney Analyst]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkPDQKd_Gr8

part 1 of wicked in USJ. all 4 parts are under that users videos. I think it looks good, the defying gravity could of been better in terms of technical aspects, but still, very awesome!

[Speedway]

I really didn't know Wicked was playing at the new Land.

[AlexLoup]

Considering the fact that this is for a park it is very well done and the fact that the actors can change from Japanese to English and speak it well is just wonderful.

[figment1986]

finshed 2 of 4.. not bad adaption... Easy to follow... even if you dont know 95% of the words they are saying... I'm liking it... (Can we bring this over here in a few years... when the broadway show closes that is..)

[AlexLoup]

I like their Elphaba. Her jump from English to Japanese is very good.

[figment1986]

Finaished the other 2.. Your right.. a platform for defying gravity doesn't have the same omph the pullys did for the traveling show... (and 5 lighting system)

probably for safety and multiple showings a day the platform was better...

[Disney Analyst]

they used pullys for the tour? I thought it was always the cherry picker? I know they use the cherry picker now...

[TDLFAN]

Land of OZ at Universal Japan opened last July 12th and I hope to be there in August to check it out and bring back a report with photos. In the meantime... here is a link to the current TV commercial for Oz and Peter Pan's neverland show at USJ:
http://www.usj.co.jp/news/tvcm/tvcm_index.html

And read about this new area's offerings here:
http://www.usj.co.jp/oz/e_index.html

[xfkirsten]

Finally saw the full video of the show... not bad, for trying to condense it into half an hour! It's interesting that it's more-or-less only the first act (save for For Good). I really liked the girl playing Elphaba. And they did a great job switching back and forth between English and Japanese. Although I gotta say, Glinda singing "my face is frushing" had me laughing all night...
/one ticket to hell, please!

[TDLFAN]

UPDATE, due to reasons beyond my control and against my will.... I was not able to go to Osaka and visit USJ and bring you a report from "Land of Oz". My apologies... Hopefully I will be able to do so no later than sept or Oct. If you still care about this topic that is or else I won't bother.

[Hector]

oh Definitely try and get some pics! You wouldn't happen to also have pics of it before it got transformed would you? I'd like to see some before and after shots.

[figment1986]

hmm... well... there's always october... (I hope they dont tourture you too much... thought it has to be interesting)

[kcnole]

Oh definitely. If you can get over there I'd love to see the pictures. I highly doubt I'll ever get over to either of those parks so the best I'll get is pictures or video from others.

[Ride Warrior]

This sounds quite crappy given the potential. Does anyone remember the Oz theme park that was to open in Kansas City a while back? They went bankrupt, but not till the now-defunct site was online and it looked KICK@**. Shame it will never be made.

Snobby, complacent, killjoy residents petitioned local Kansas City government against building a large scale Oz park, with legal challenges and emotional outcries. They succeded in deep sixing the project. The same type of folk have been filing complaints against Disneyland for decades. I say round 'em all up, and move 'em to the middle of a desolate dessert, where they belong.

On face value, an Oz theme replacement for USJ's old west area sounds like an intriguing prospect. Upon closer consideration, though, ti is sad that the park intends to rip out rides in order to install shows and restaurants. This leaves me wondering if Paul Pressler has been advising Oz developers. Perhaps Oz is getting ready to fall into the Gap.